days of nuwanda

Who knew making coffee could be this beautiful?

Wow, do I need one of these Scanomat Top Brewer coffee machines! Nevermind the price tag, it's iPhone compatible, so I can order a latte while sitting in my office on a cool iPhone app, and my drink will be ready in the kitchen in less than 2 minutes, thus saving me all the effort of having to make it myself. Oh and when I said nevermind the price tag, I really meant that. The price supposedly hasn't been released yet, and I'm guessing that if you have to ask, you can't afford it, much like a yacht or a small, private island. But really, can you put a price tag on ease, comfort, and hot coffee at your fingertips? I think not. Did I mention it's self-cleaning?

This promo video is awesome. I was utterly enchanted! 

Invasion of Privacy 101

My IT friends have been discussing this article about a gentleman who was asked to share his Facebook login and password with a potential employer. Yah, you read that right...in an interview, they asked him to GIVE THEM his login and password, so they could check out his FB page. Not even just friending him, but viewing all of his personal info. There are so many things wrong w/ this scenario, the least of which is an invasion of privacy. Your FB page contains tons of info that employers are not legally allowed to ask about in an interview--your age, your religious affiliation, your marital status, your political views, to name a few--so this steps on the toes of all sorts of things. As one of my friends put it, "If I asked someone for their login/password and they actually gave it to me, I would NEVER hire that person, especially in the IT field."  Obviously this is an at-will situation. This man didn't have to give in, didn't have to have this particular job, and he withdrew his application--and rightly so. The other guy seeking a law enforcement position, however, did give his login info b/c he felt he had no choice.

Apparently some agencies also ask for email logins. What the heck? I would laugh in the face of anyone who demanded to view my FB page or my email b/c as the writer says, it's like asking someone for their house keys. Where do we draw the line? How far should an employer dig into your life to gauge your compatibility w/ their company? As far as you let them, I guess. The implications here are very interesting. A couple states are proposing legislation that would make such a request illegal, so we've definitely not heard the end of this. 

Found: the perfect chocolate bunny for my kids

Seriously, I want a job working at ThinkGeek b/c these people are crazy-cool geniuses. Check out their chocolate zombie bunny...a work of art and a cool conversation piece if ever I saw one. I think I need 3 of them for my little people. Is that disturbing to anyone else?

Just because you can doesn't mean you should

Usually I would at least give points for creativity, but not this time. Check out the umbilical cord iPhone charger...and weep. (There's even a video to show it in action.) The only redeeming fact is that it's a Japanese product, not an American one.

 

Jiggly Jello app

Everyone should have this app. Yes, I downloaded it, tried it out (listening to "Loud Music" by Michelle Branch, if you'd like to know) and the lime jello danced its socks off. Clearly *someone* has too much time on their hands. My kids are gonna be ecstatic, like they were when we found Temple Run, the game w/ the demon monkey. Who comes up w/ this stuff???

 

Hubby's wish list

Hubby originally had this on his Christmas wish list, but then he realized it was just a pager to help you find your misplaced beer, not to page your wife to bring you another beer. What is the point of that??? Ha! :) 

Now the real question is, if you are a serious beer drinker, how on earth do you misplace it? Come on! 

I know I'm negatively biased, but really, these are AWFUL!

Ready for Halloween? These might get you in the creepy mood! I'm all for creativity and artistic expression (and I love fun jewelry!), but why must it include spiders and spider webs??? Pure evil!

  

But this one takes the cake. If I saw someone actually wearing this out somewhere, I would report them to the authorities (if I didn't faint first)!!! YUCK!

  

Not on my Christmas list (for obvious reasons)

I'm all for saving wildlife and being kind to God's creatures, and jewelry seems to be a great way to celebrate animals w/o harming them, but these rings qualify as animal cruelty b/c they are just so awful. I mean, really? A big beluga whale on your finger, covered in gemstones? Couldn't you put these gems to much better use than emulating a whale? Oh wait--maybe a turtle? Turtles are so cute, and who wouldn't want a big gaudy turtle taking up their entire hand? I'm starting to get hives just typing this. Emitations has some amazing pieces, but these are not exactly going to be on my Christmas list. I don't know a soul who would wear these, and I consider that a good thing. (Jonathan, this ranks right up there w/ Quacker Factory. HA!)

  
  
Mel, I know how much you love turtles and all, so if you're really nice to me, I just might spring for this. After all, it's just $99! Where else can you get this level of gaudiness stuck on a poor turtle for under $100???

Reckless? I think not.

I got pulled over the other day on my way to Indy. I was going 62 in a 60, and this state trooper pulled me over and made me sit there for a good 10 minutes. No joke. I didn't argue when the cop handed me a warning; I just took it and moved on. I could hear my Dad in my head, saying, "Well, you were speeding!" He taught me to go THE EXACT speed limit, so clearly this was karma paying me back for all the years I've been going 2, 3, occasionally even 4 mph over the posted limit. I know, I'm such a daredevil. I really need to get a grip on my adrenaline-junkie ways.

The hilarious part of this story is that everyone else I know goes AT LEAST 70 on the way to Indy, and they brag profusely about their wild ways. But this guy waits until ridiculously-cautious-and-drives-like-a-granny lil ol' me is zipping past him at 62 and he nails me. For real. I have the kind of luck you don't want. I feel safer though. I mean, if State Trooper Joe is so bored that he pulls over a soccer mom in a minivan going 62 in a 60, obviously behaving very recklessly, then crime must be way down, and we can all breathe a little easier. I know I slept better that night.

P.S. I have the utmost respect for all officers upholding the law. I really do. I jest here only b/c it's my luck to get pulled over on a super slow crime day. I took a poll--no one else knows anyone who's been pulled over for going 2 mph over the speed limit, once again proving that I was put here on this planet to simply stir things up and defy the odds. :)

Baby shower gift idea

We just got the awesome news that friends of ours are expecting their first baby. Congrats, Nick & Angie!!! I absolutely love watching new parents prep for baby and try to grasp what is about to come. It's an amazing time, and I fondly remember when we anticipated our 1st baby.

I can't wait to shop for a baby gift, but perhaps this should remain off the list--a vampire pacifier!

 

Actually, Nick might like such a psychotic baby gift, but Angie, I won't do that to you! :)

 

I love the product specifications from ThinkGeek.com (geniuses, they are!!!):

*Makes baby simultaneously quiet and awesome

*If baby sparkles, feed to werewolves immediately and make a new baby